Four days after I broke the news that Big Dog Motorcycles was closing, that the lender would foreclose on them, that the company would start calling dealers to inform them, that CEO Sheldon Coleman would create a new company to distribute parts under the name of “Big Dog Performance Parts”, that the new company would re-hire current employees to handle this new business, Big Dog Motorcycles President Mike Simmons finally admits that the company was seized by its bank and forced to close, so acknowledging that my news were 100%accurate (see his official statement to PowerSports Business after the jump)

Since last Thursday, date at which I learned that Big Dog Motorcycles had furloughed 10 more employees (not fired because furloughed employees don’t receive paid vacation like fired people…) it has been quite a few strange days regarding the company corporate behavior and the way some media behave when I break an important story they don’t have. This same Thursday I started investigative work to know what was really going on at the company. On Friday, after verification from several reliable sources, I had all the facts to certify that Big Dog Dog was about to close for good. So, I sent an email to a top executive at Big Dog to ask (without revealing all what I knew) if the company had an official statement to give me regarding their situation. On Sunday, I prepared my article, deciding to wait until Monday beginning of the afternoon to give my interlocutor at Big Dog a chance to reply.

On Monday April 4, 2011 at 1.15pm EST I received the following reply from Big Dog Motorcycles “Hi Cyril, We did have some people laid off. Just more downsizing that is all, nothing of really important newsworthy information.” I immediately replied “it’s not true, you are closing…” and uploaded my breaking news “Big Dog Motorcycles Is Closing” with all details now confirmed 4 days later by President Mike Simmons.

Immediately, I was contacted by the Wichita Business Journal journalist who just published the same morning an article where the same Mike Simmons was confirming that there was a new reduction of workers but (in substance) that at Big Dog it was business as usual. (we are open…) I confirmed to this journalist that my news were verified and he left several messages to CEO Sheldon Coleman requiring a statement regarding my disclosure. This Thursday morning the same journalist emailed to me to say that his calls were still not returned..Since Monday, many newspapers and motorcycle magazines contacted me to know my sources and I told them all that my report was verified and that I will not disclose more for now. DealerNews published in the afternoon an interview of largest Big Dog Dealer Rick Fairless at Strokers Dallas who confirmed my statements after he talked directly to Big Dog CEO Sheldon Coleman. Hours later several online magazines and newspapers quoted me to announce that Big Dog was closing. My direct online competitors didn’t quote me (of course), just publishing that it was a rumor from a Blog…(hello, your source of news got a name and you know very well that I never publish rumors)

Of course, since publication of my article, many media and dealers have called Big Dog to check on my news. The answer given by many persons at Big Dog was reported to me as “Cyril’s report is Bull…” Since Monday a few individuals, dealers and media have told me that they didn’t believe that Big Dog Motorcycles was closing, but most stated that they trusted my report but wondered, like me, why the company was not issuing an official statement. I told them that Big Dog may have good reasons to remain silent, but no good one to give instructions to employees to discredit my news by stating they are Bull when they know too well I stated the exact truth of what was going on. All this writing to state that Big Dog Motorcycles like all other companies must acknowledge my right and duty to my readers to publish important news, good or bad, as soon as I know them and that they are verified. If I can understand why a corporation wishes to remain silent until an appropriate time for its managers to make a statement, I think it’s a PR mistake to contradict yourself publicly by denying to medias and dealers to publicly admit later. If a company doesn’t want to say anything, that’s fine. Stay silent. But don’t deny true reports and try to discredit the one who does his honest journalistic job. Now, the Big Dog Motorcycles official admission of their closing.

Mike Simmons, President Big Dog Motorcycles To Powersports Business on April 7th:“Big Dog Motorcycles was foreclosed upon on Wednesday afternoon, and the company has closed. Big Dog Motorcycles, LLC has been foreclosed on, its assets seized, and it is no more. The custom motorcycle OEM has struggled to survive for about the last 18 months. Its primary lending institution had worked with the company to help keep its doors open, but ultimately decided to go forward with a foreclosure. There’s been a variety of factors that have caused a lot of companies to go out of business the last two years, mostly dealing with the economy,” Simmons said. He added that retail lending availability was a big factor in Big Dog Motorcycles’ demise. Dealers and customers will feel an effect of the closure, above and beyond the supply of bikes. There is no longer a manufacturing company to supply dealers with motorcycles. There are no warranties”

However, in the wake of the closure, another company has been formed. Motorcycles Enterprises LLC, doing business as BDM Performance Products, will sell parts and accessories for existing Big Dog Motorcycles, and other models’ products will be added in the future. We plan on offering parts and accessories for other American V-twins. Clothing and other apparel will likely be available in the future as well. I will act as president of Wichita, Kan.-based BDM Performance Products, and its 20 employees are all former Big Dog Employees. Initial news about Big Dog Motorcycles’ closure and about the new company will be delivered to dealers through phone calls. Later, dealers will likely receive e-mail and direct mail communication about the change.”

Proof one more time that CHB is a RELIABLE source. I have been told for two days by people without a clue this was “blog fodder”. This is not the first time I have defended “our crazy Frenchman”. Thanks Cyril for being on top of your game and providing a great source of reliable, pertinant industry information and usually being first at it. Anyone who thinks thats easy,,,just ask the competition.

Way to go Cyril. You know I did what I could to help you and my Big Dog owners. It’s been a rough week, that much is certain. I’m glad that you were able to save face and I never doubted you. Of course over the several communications we shared I knew you would eventually be shown to the public, riders, and fellow media as a great journalist in this news. Thanks again for helping everybody with this news and everything you have in the past.

It takes a long time for a bank to seize and foreclose. The BDM company was not seized by surprise on Wednesday afternoon. Why did BDM deny all Cyril’s statements when they were confirmed shortly after by Rick Fairless after a conversation he had with Coleman is beyond my understanding. It is possible that they wanted to package the truth to look like they were not forced to close,just decided to sell only parts. Anyway, it would not have been very credible. Bet their vendors are going to take the easy and most profitable routeselling directly to Dog owners. No more warranties? Warranty was 2 years. How many BD sold during the last 2 years? It’s the Ridley story all over again.

its only a matter of time before Conrad Nicklus shows up on here telling us what hacks Big Dog are and how he and his non existant business (installing grips on his dads bikes and calling them custom built) are better than Big Dog, American Ironhorse, West Coast Choppers and OCC. (Seems Conrad has a OCC Paul JR. complex). Am I taking jabs at Connie, you bet. He took issue with everyone on here (and other boards) so I am taking issue with him. But I digress.
Big Dog and all other clone companies had their day, its time to get back to what we all love, customizing and building Harleys (sorry Connie….. Desparados) and taking plesure in customizing and building bikes instead of buying someone’s mass produced, umm, “custom choppers”. Bye bye Big Dog. We are sorry you are out of biz but not sorry to see you go. Time to get back to custom motorcycles actually being custom motorcycles.

and to Connie…. I am done jabbing at you as long as you are done jabbing at everyone else. Let’s see one of your customs or some of your parts. We want to see what the son of a real master builder is capable of doing. Don’t let us done kid!

Great Job Cyril….I just dont have a clue how one can be foreclosed upon because the business needed retail funding and then you can turn around and start another business very similar when you couldn’t pay the first set of debts…Coleman didn’t shut down making camping supplies did he ? Why is it the assholes with money can always seem to come out and leave someone else holding the bag and then start over again and again and again…..Just blows me away !!!

It is not uncommon for a company to deny rumors up until the bitter end. Many of them have investors, share holders and outstanding orders to contend with. They have employees to think about and I’m sure negotiations with the bank ended right to the point where the y shut down the business.

Look at T-Mobile. They make hundreds of millions a year and they denied the AT&T rumors up until the bitter end. They even denied it to their employees until it was announced on a Sunday (forget exact date) and their leadership had to fess up to it.

Big Dog made bloated bikes and when the market fell out they did not adjust. It is nobodies fault but their own. Now all of the lesser known bloated bike builders will follow suit.

20 people to start a new parts distribution business! It’s a lot of people. To sell which parts? BDM was buying most of its parts from others. I would be a vendor I would prefer to sell direct than give a commission to this new company. I am pretty sure there are some unpaid bills to these vendors.

Great work or not, it is sad that another custom motorcycle company has closed. Negative trends are reversing and we are having record months with my store, but I have need items and not want items.

chicagojohn…come on down if yu’uns can get out of Obama’s windy shitty…I’ll have some Silly Billy beer for ya on ice and some of his brother’s boiled peanuts. Some of my fellow bros (GSP) also would like to give ya a real safety (bubba) check, of course, at no charge…wink wink. Obviously you are not an honorable vet, so we will not digress further with you there. Like I said, you like to run your mouth here, but I can’t seem to get you to come down for Billy Beer.

Looked at their bagger a couple of years ago at Sturgis and really liked it, just couldn’t see 40k when I could put something similar together brand new for about half. Sorry they didn’t make it, I hate to see anyone lose their job.

The Bagger looked nice on the showroom floor, but the dealer said it’s only 40k, it’s a 45k bike. I just walked away. Remember when it was announced a little early that Indian was closing about ten years ago before they actually closed? What happened? The employees looted the place!

Still a shame it had to happen. I do appreciate that they would go down swinging and hope for a shred of chance that something could turnaround, HOWEVER…I also agree with Hamilton about the vendors being owed. BDM may have had a bit more time to hash things out with them before the ultimate demise, but this sounds just like Ridley to me.

Why are you so worried about what Conrad does or says? The “kid” is, or will be in a few days, 24 years old and a grown man now and has his own opinions and deep understanding of this industry. In my opinion he has every right, just as you do, to voice whatever opinion he wants whether you like it, or anyone else for that matter, likes it or not means what? Further, what is up with the “I will leave you alone if you go sit down and shut up”? That would fire me up to attack even more, but that is just me.

Would I like for Conrad to be “less vocal” on this blog and others???? No doubt, but like I said he is his own person and has as much right as anyone to his opinions and right to voice those opinions. I refuse to “muzzle” the kid like some other “parents” in the industry do for fear it will affect “their sales”. In the long run Conrad is the one that must live with his opinions, not me. I know, before you say it, his opinions reflect on me, even though they shouldn’t, and I have told him this on many occasions and my statements fall on deaf ears.

As for your comments about him riding my coat tails ….. damn right he is, he rides my coat tails just like some of those “other kids” in the industry born to parents with “known” last names and coat tails that can be ridden. Do you really think some of the “Awards” that have been passed out to some of the “Coat Tail Kids” have actually been earned on their own merit? I don’t. Personally I am proud I have some coat tails anyone would want to ride. He, like all the other “coat tail kids”, will eventually find their own style and flair and move on. Like every parent, I want him and all the others “coat tail kids” to achieve way more than “we” have. Time will tell.

FYI: The “kid” is a Federally Licensed Motorcycle Manufacturer and has been for over a year now and he does build a few bikes, on his own, between his college classes. His Company name is Impressive Motorsports.

Further, thanks for you kind comments concerning MY builds and career, I am happy you are a fan.

To bad you have assholes selling bikes even though they know their business was done. Way to screw people out of warranties…………..yeah, yeah I know, “we intend on honoring all of the warranties on the bikes we’ve sold recently”.

Must say, I love getting phone calls and emails about people saying my name and/or talking smack on here to me…. Greg Lange, obviously a no name person who probably rides a 1970 Harley that looks like it has been to hell and back four (4) times at minimum. The nerve you must have to come on here and say I AM going to talk smack about Big Dog when it is you, in fact, who is stating you are happy they are gone. I understand you are a live, breathe, eat, sleep, and shit Harley person, but maybe you should take the diaper off, put the Gerber “apple” down and move into a real bike? Just saying.
I’ll admit that I laugh at your posts, the malice statements you make and the lack of experience when it comes to trying to insult someone really just make me smile knowing I get to you THAT much. In case you have yet to justify anything you have said I will justify why I talk so much on here, I know the facts as well as the people who are in this industry. You obviously are a square who lives somewhere near a forest, where the entire list of basket case parts are found from 1969 Woodstock era bikes. (not in but near, you do have internet obviously) Or better yet, maybe the leprechauns live there as well as the Smurfs!
Now, to the part where we discuss my bikes, parts and service; I have produced parts in which I use specifically for my bikes in which I build for MY Company, not my fathers. Impressive Motorsports has been doing very well over the past 11 Months in business (1 year on May 15th). I have a great group of clients and several of which have become friends, 2 of which are friends since I was a kid. I currently have the first bike built in the “Madrad” line called “Rigor Mortis”, the current owner traded it in on a new bike in which I am working on for him now. As my father stated, coat tails are there for a reason and I’m glad to ride his as it has made me capable of learning the things I HAVE to know to survive in this industry as well as how to be more innovative than others.
So, with your lame ass responses and your untruthful comments being placed all over the internet, I’m going to say THANKS! The phone calls and emails are really making an impact, in a good way! I have a customer who reads the blog on a daily basis just to see what I will say and what others will say in response.

opinions are like assholes. everyone has one and everyone is one HAHAHA

Sucks to hear about Big Dog but with all these cookie cutter lifestyle motorcycle companies out of business maybe people will start customizing their own shit again. Hell the classifieds are chock full of these bikes for cheap.

Its hard for me to build and sell the bikes I build for myself for the 19k that “The Madrad” line is priced at. I have a new project in the works for me, a lot different than anything you would expect by looking at my fathers bikes but its definitely a one of a kind.

Yep…. I believe the economy had a small part with BD and the other “custom motorcycle” builders swirling down the drain. In reality the major impact is the wannabe’s woke up and realized they had been taken for an expensive ride paying outragous prices for a mail order parts, bar hop’n motorcycle, then they found out with in a yr they could resell it for about 1/2 of what they origionally paid for it.

Excellent reporting on this Cyril. You’re on top of whats happening in the motorcycle industry.

Jeff; Your comments are the very reason I like you Sir. You have a very gifted ability to say
mind your own F#@&ing business and eat Sh!t without actually saying it. And the apple did not fall too far from the tree. Althought he needs a little guidance from his father every now and then he is showing great promiss in the area of telling people were to stick it as well. Good Job Conrad I did enjoy reading both your comments. Have a great weekend Guys

…..”Jeff, what does a Federal Motorcycle Manufacturer License look like and where do you apply for one of those?”…..

After 30+ years of being married to a woman with a law degree I have managed to learn how to recogonized a question, such as yours written above, that has obviously been written by someone who clearly knows the answer to their own question, however, I will play your game, whatever that game may be, and briefly answer your question.

Someone wishing to become a Federally Authorized Motorcycle Manufacturer should follow the link below to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and follow the requirements stated within the booklet. Also, you will have to get your World Identifier Numbers from SAE before NHTSA will accept your paperwork.

“Someone wishing to become a Federally Authorized Motorcycle Manufacturer should follow the link below to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and follow the requirements stated within the booklet. Also, you will have to get your World Identifier Numbers from SAE before NHTSA will accept your paperwork.”

Does that come with the secret decoder ring?

Seriously, Sad news about BDM, not just because it was a bike shop, but a business in general, upon whom peoples’ livelihoods depended. And what small lives some folks must have to find pleasure in their passing.
It’s also sad that a thread about their demise degenerates into a thread about someone else. Whether you like them or are just plain ambivalent (as I was last week at Dallas Market Hall last week) we should learn that when given the opportunity, some folks just need to make it all about themselves.

I visited the site. I was less than impressed. If it’s a money issue, (19K COULD build a pretty friggin good bike) check out some of the builds on other sites that are way cool, and done with little money. You can’t buy imagination. If you still feel the need to impress us, send some photos to Cyril, and have him do a “Secret Life Of” write up on you. Granted, it will be short, but at least you can make it all about you.

Jeff and Conrad Nicklus are the very definition of “blowhards.” Their influence and respect in the motorcycle industry doesn’t extend past platforms like these which allow them to spue their BS and rhetoric for their own shamless, self promotion. You need only look back at the “I Hate Sturgis” smear campaign and other negative publicity stunts lead by these douche bags to know that they are quicky running out of soap boxes to preach upon. I am big fan of the first ammendment, Cyril – but having to filter through countless Nicklus BS in order to read your blog is getting old. So how about it, IS ANYONE ELSE IN FAVOR OF A NICKLUS FILTER ON CYRIL’S BLOG?

You talk big _hit when you can hide behind your “screen name”, why not have some balls and use your own name? Like most on here you talk big crap and then when you see me at the events you glad hand me and want autographs. It is laughable.

Over & Out,

Jeff

PS: Tim, I do have a decoder ring and FYI: not everyone can use “scrap year” parts to build a bike thereby keeping the cost down.

I have to admit, I do enjoy all the back and forth. I do not know Jeff but, from what I have read from his other posts, I think he is a pretty cool dude. We seem to think a lot along the same lines on most topics. And he has some great jokes. I don’t know Conrad either. I’m sure he has many good qualities. He does have the air of a boy that has led a pretty gifted life and likes to think he knows just about everything on a given subject. But, he is young and, hopefully, will grow out of that. He has to have some talent seeing who his dad is and growing up absorbing all the bike builder knowledge he has been around. Now that i got that out of the way, I hate to hear about any American company going under. I liked the Big Dog bikes even thought they were basically bolt together bikes. They sold them for what they sold because dumb RUBs were willing to pay that for them. Can’t blame them for that. A fool and his money and all.

Hey My Friends,
What really happened is the guys in charge forgot what a small industry they were in and basically used up all their customers when they should have stayed small and catered to the customer much like the luxury car maker Mayback who make owning their wildly expensive cars an experience. I was a Yamaha dealer for nearly thirty years and used to scold (in a nice way) my fellow dealers for using up a customer for a discount sale. Now (those that are left) are wishing they could have had some of the profit left on the table by wanting to make “all” the sales instead of only the good profit sales like we did.
I own a “Dog” American Flag Chopper and am sorry to see them go,
Spencer